Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a think tank, believes that Bangladesh’s economy lags behind Sri Lanka and Nepal, and will face three significant challenges in the next two years.

CPD Research Director Khondkar Golam Mouazzem highlighted the concerns in his keynote presentation during a dialogue titled ‘Business Environment Reform in Bangladesh: Interim Government's Agenda’ at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali on Sunday.

In addition to economic risks such as inflation, recession, poverty, and inequality, CPD also identified three pressing social risks: unemployment, fuel shortages and the increasing prevalence of chronic health issues like heart disease, cancer and diabetes, which contribute to poor health and social degradation.

Prof  Lutfe Siddiqui, Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser on International Affairs, attended the dialogue as the chief guest, while CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun presided over the event.

Other notable participants included Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Haroon, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); former FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo; FICCI President Javed Akhtar; BKMEA Executive President Fazli Shamim Ehsan; DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed; and BTMA President Shaukat Aziz Russell.

“A decade's worth of data from the services, agriculture, manufacturing, and non-manufacturing sectors has been analysed to prepare this report. It indicates that Bangladesh lags behind Sri Lanka and India in terms of business competitiveness. Compared to its economic growth, Bangladesh is far behind in business competition,” Dr Golam Mouazzem said.